Boston (Mass.). Bath Department

Historical note

Public Baths were first established in Boston in 1866 under the control of a Joint Committee of the City Council. Chapter 214 of the Acts of 1874, "An act to authorized cities and towns to erect and maintain public baths and wash-houses," was accepted by the City Council on January 2, 1875. By an ordinance passed December 27, 1879, the Committee on Bathing was discontinued and the baths were put in the care of the Board of Health. A new city department of Public Baths was created by ordinance passed in 1898. Chapter 10 of the Ordinances of 1912 merged the Park Department with the Public Grounds, Bath and Music Departments, under the name of Park and Recreation Department.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Scope and Contents
Includes annual reports of the Bath Department for 1906-1907 and "Free Municipal Baths in Boston" by William I. Cole published in 1899. Annual reports can also be found in the City Documents series.

Scope and Contents
Includes records for Arch Wharf, 1866; Dover Street Bridge, 1866; Cambridge Bridge, 1866; East Boston, 1866; and Cabot Street Bath, 1868-1876. Record includes date, number of bathers by time of day, and weather.